When Romell Quioto sniffs out a good deal, he doesn’t let it pass.
Posted at 10:12 p.m.
CF Montreal won 2-1 against DC United on Saturday night in Washington. Thanks to two goals from the striker in the first half.
The Honduran’s scoring sniff, combined with a solid outing in front of the net for James Pantemis, allowed Wilfried Nancy’s troops to do very well. And this, despite a slightly more uneven performance than what it has offered lately.
CF Montreal had not yet sweated its first drops in the heat of Washington, which it was already leading 1-0. Quioto spotted defender Donovan Pines clumsily juggling the ball with just 35 seconds into the game. Then grabbed the leather and carried it to the surface, where he played skillfully to score his first goal of the match.
Wilfried Nancy’s troops then deployed their possession game. Until United found their energy midway through the first half. But Pantemis was valiant: the goalkeeper, new starter in the Montreal eleven since last week, made beautiful saves, in the 26e in particular, to protect the advance of his team.
Then, like the instinctive striker that he is, Quioto still played opportunism. Joel Waterman sent him a superb – and long – pass from the back. The Honduran tenaciously defeated defender Gaoussou Samake, then lobbed the goalkeeper for his second of the match in the 35th minutee minute. He scored his ninth goal of the season, which already makes it his highest total during his career in MLS.
The DCU are last in the league standings. He is also waiting for his new head coach, the legendary Wayne Rooney, to be unable to start working until his visa issues are settled.
The locals nevertheless made themselves more threatening in the second half. And as Montreal still dictated the game, he took advantage of his opportunity on a set piece to close the gap. Head courtesy of Captain Steve Birnbaum at the 56e.
Nancy’s triple change at 63e set the record straight. The fresh legs of Kei Kamara, Matko Miljevic and Mathieu Choinière gradually calmed the game at Audi Field.
We played with fire a few times, especially at the 78ebut the Montreal defense finally watched the grain.
This victory, an 11e this season and a 5e on the road, allows Montreal to consolidate its place in the Top 3 of the Eastern classification. He remains 9 points from eighth position, the first excluded from the playoffs.